Tuesday, July 26, 2011

I attended the 10th anniversary of the Tribeca Film Festival this year for the first time since I began my indie filmmaking career. I was very impressed by the film selection, and yet, I couldn’t help but to observe the obvious omission from your selected film fare: African-American narrative films.

As a storyteller, I enjoy a good story well told. Yet, most films exhibited at festivals or released at box offices reflect a world devoid of people like me: African-American. I became a filmmaker to change that, and I know that there are many other filmmakers like me who decided the same. Yet, your festival seems to contribute to the perpetuity of films devoid of an African-American narrative. Is it the case that there were NO submissions of films reflective of an African-American experience? I find that truly hard to believe.

Of all the films created in our fair country, I am optimistic that a large percentage of them are created by African-Americans. We are a large population of these United States. I am even more optimistic that many of these films are of the caliber of excellence that your festival requires. Yet, here I am writing a letter calling attention to the fact that Tribeca Film Festival did not screen one African-American narrative film written and/or directed by an African-American filmmaker, and asking WHY?

I must say that, as an indie filmmaker, I am disappointed by my first Tribeca Film Festival experience. A film festival that was built from the ground up, only 200 miles from my hometown, failed to showcase films that reflect the world in which I live. Your film selection was garishly void of a narrative that includes people like me. It left me wondering if I should ever attend again, let alone submit my films.

Honestly, I would love to attend the Tribeca Film Festival again next year, and see a few films that not only move me but also include me. Make it happen.

Jamal has an infant son for whom he provides. He has a family who loves him dearly, and a drug crew who looks to him for leadership.

But, Jamal is conflicted.

He wants to take care of his son, as any father would, yet his choice of career, though it may be easy and lucrative, goes against his spiritual beliefs. He has to either quit the drug game, barely making ends meet, or continue on the path of money, power, and respect at the price of his soul.

A violent altercation triggers a series of events that leave many dead. The violence hits home for Jamal, and when the smoke clears he accepts that he must get out of the drug game. But, will he?

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Writer-Director Nia Malika Dixon is interviewed about indie filmmaking and her latest project, Chrysalis: An Urban Web Series. Chrysalis was shot over 4 days in Baltimore, MD and is scheduled to begin airing weekly on January 31, 2011. For more behind the scenes and exclusive updates, follow Nia on twitter.com/niamalikadixon, and “Like” the official FB page for Chrysalis: http://bit.ly/hpjZWu